Top 5 Android security apps: Do they protect you?

The subject of security for the Android platform is far from straightforward. There’s some debate about whether you really need antivirus apps on your smartphone. Much depends on whether you sideload apps, but there’s no denying that malware has grown into a much greater concern since we first wrote this article back in 2012. Luckily, security apps have improved dramatically to keep pace with the new threats, so you have plenty of great protection to choose from.

The majority of Android security apps are actually packages that include a host of other tools from contact filtering to remote lock or wipe. We decided to take a look at the top five Android security apps and find out what they do. We are taking a look at these from a consumer point of view, so be warned that some of the “free” apps are only free for personal, non-commercial use.

360 Security (Free)

A major player in China, developer Qihu burst onto the scene and claimed the top spot in AV-Test’s September 2013 report with a virtually flawless detection rate of 99.9 percent, the highest of any of the security apps tested. In the latest November 2015 report, it achieved a detection rate of 99.9 percent. The focus with 360 Mobile Security is firmly on detecting and nullifying threats to your system. It has a very streamlined, elegant design. It’s extremely lightweight, and it’s completely free. A standard real-time scan will safeguard your device from malware, spyware, and the threat of infection. It’s also capable of detecting and fixing system vulnerabilities and cleaning up idle background apps to help your phone run more efficiently. There’s a privacy advisor and a tool to clear your usage history.

The latest version of 360 Security boasts a lot of extras, including a junk file cleaner, memory booster to free RAM, a power saving option, app management, privacy with encryption, and anti-theft tools for locating or remotely wiping your phone. For a good blend of usability and strong protection, you should think about 360 Security. It offers smooth performance and a host of extra features, so it is bound to appeal to many users.

Avast! Mobile Security

As a genuinely free app for the Android platform, Avast! Mobile Security is offering an impressive range of tools. It has antivirus protection, it scans your apps to provide details on what they are doing, and it has a Web shield that scans URLs for malware.

There are various additional tools in the package and the best of the bunch is the anti-theft component. The app is actually based on an old app called Theft Aware which Avast acquired. The anti-theft feature is hidden and allows you to remote control your smartphone using SMS. So if you lose your phone, you can remotely lock it, locate it, or wipe it. You can make it play a siren sound, lock down the SIM card, and prevent USB debugging as well. It’s a comprehensive solution for theft protection.

If you have a rooted device then there’s also a firewall that allows you to control network traffic. You can block access to Wi-Fi or the network for specific apps which is handy for security and potentially saving on battery juice as well.

According to the latest AV-Test report of 25 popular Android security apps, Avast is a solid option with an overall detection rate of 98.1 percent. Although it is not top of the charts in terms of malware detection, the extra functionality (including the anti-theft tools and a firewall for rooted devices) still make it worth considering. It has a light footprint with no discernible drain on battery life and no impact on general performance. It also returned no false positives.

The fact this app is completely free, has a wide range of features, and offers protection for rooted devices, makes it a strong contender. If you’re looking for a security solution for your Android smartphone, and your primary concern is malware and safe browsing, then this could be the right app for you.

Avast Marketing Director, Milos Korenko, has assured us that “There might be a paid version in the future but that won’t have an impact on the free version. It will continue to be available and loaded with features.”

ESET Mobile Security & Antivirus

Eset deserves its place in our top five with a 100 percent detection rate in the latest AV-Test report and an easy-to-use interface. The basic app is completely free and it provides real-time scans of apps to detect malware and potentially dodgy apps trying to send texts or make premium rate calls.

The free version also includes a suite of anti-theft tools. You can remotely locate and lock your smartphone or tablet, and you can prevent anyone from uninstalling apps by using password protection.

If you want remote wipe or SIM guard capabilities then you have to spring for the premium version at $20 per year, but it also delivers anti-phishing protection, an app audit feature, device monitoring for unwarranted use of data, and advanced call blocking.

Avira Antivirus Security

With a 99.9 percent detection rate and no false positives, you can trust the free version of Avira to keep your Android smartphone or tablet safe. It has a light footprint in terms of performance and a sleek, minimalist design that fits in well with the Android platform.

Avira allows you to scan apps for potential trouble and it scans new apps or updates automatically. There’s also the usual batch of anti-theft tools, to help you find your device remotely, lock it, wipe it, or trigger an alarm.

There’s also an identity safeguard tool that can tell you whether your email account, or the email addresses of your friends, have been leaked or compromised. A decent range of blacklisting options rounds off this app, so you can block problem callers or nuisance spam.

There is a premium version that adds anti-phishing, more regular updates, and better support, but the free version covers enough bases for most people.

AVL

Some of you are probably just looking for malware protection that’s as barebones as possible. If you don’t want anti-theft tools, or identity protection, or any of the other possibly superfluous features that come in many security apps then AVL will suit you.

This app scored a 99.8 percent detection rate with one false positive and AV-Test found performance was good with no undue impact on speed or battery life. AVL can scan a variety of file formats beyond APKs and it’s designed to be fast and efficient. It does also offer call blocking capabilities.

From the big name security software brands, Kaspersky and Norton will attract many people because they are familiar names, but compared to some of the free options there’s really nothing there to justify the price tags. Same goes for the excellent Bitdefender Mobile Security & Antivirus. Bitdefender and Norton did score 100 percent in November’s test, but they are only free trials and will bug you about paying out an annual subscription.